UGANDA - swapping Coleraine for Kampala
Chief Reporter Jordan Moates speaks with a solicitor who has been living in Uganda and working with Fields of Life.
A County Antrim solicitor, living in Uganda, has challenged people here to consider how much water they use doing simple tasks.
Anne Brown swapped Coleraine for Kampala with her husband Scott around 4 years ago.
“Think about how much water you use cleaning your teeth.”
“That has been one of the things that has struck me the most.”
“It has shown how much we take water for granted and just watch it going out.”
“I have seen people be careful with half a cup.”
“It just the water of life and nobody can live without it.”
The couple got involved with Fields of Life around 10 years ago.
Anne’s skills as a lawyer were put to good use doing the diligence required for building projects.
It wasn’t long before she turned her back on Northern Ireland for the East African country.
She told us very quickly things were put into perspective.
“Having walked with a group of villagers to a pond which was filthy dirty.
“At that point I just realised these people were drinking typhoid, cholera, and bilharzia disease.”
“I was also shocked to learn the water sources are shared with animals.”
“There are even snakes around the edges putting young children at risk just fetching the water.”
Fields of Life has launched its East African Emergency Appeal in response to an ongoing crisis in Northern Uganda.
The influx of refugees fleeing war torn South Sudan has put added pressure on an already stressed area.
While access to water is one of the biggest problems facing people live in the area, the memories of the conflict in their home country still haunt them.
Anne has spent some time in the refugee camps and says “my abiding memory is meeting a tall, elegant lady standing in what I can only describe as a night dress.”
“Her story was horrendous, their story of how they got there are just harrowing.”
“The things they have seen and the losses they are carrying.”
If you want to support the Fields of Life East African Emergency Appeal you can find details on their website